Privacy Policy

Thank you for visiting www.MDGandE.com, the website of Maryland Gas & Electric (“MDG&E”). Our website is designed to make it easier for you to find helpful information. Like all online resource providers, MDG&E recognizes that visitors to this website are concerned about their privacy. We are committed to preserving your privacy when visiting this website and using the online services we offer.

This policy describes MDG&E’s privacy practice regarding information collected from visitors to this website. It also describes what data is collected and how that information is used, consistent with the provisions of the Internet Security and Privacy Act, the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL), and the Personal Privacy Protection Law.

For purposes of this policy, “personal information” means any information concerning a natural person which, because of the name, number, symbol, mark or other identifier, can be used to identify that person.

Information Collected and How It Is Used

The information that we collect from your visit to this website depends upon what sections of the website you visit and what actions you take during your visit. We do not collect any personal information (e.g., name, address, or phone number) during your visit to this website unless you voluntarily choose to provide it.

MDG&E does not collect any information for commercial marketing purposes, and does not sell or otherwise market your e-mail address or other personal information for commercial purposes.

MDG&E does not knowingly collect personal information form children or create profiles of children through this website. Users are cautioned, however, that the collection of personal information submitted in an e-mail will be treated as though it was submitted by an adult, and may, unless exempted from access by Federal or State law, be subject to public access. MDG&E strongly encourages parents and teachers to be involved in children’s Internet activities and to provide guidance whenever children are asked to provide personal information online.

Browsing and Downloading Information

If you browse or download information from our website, MDG&E automatically collects and stores the following information about your visit:

The Internet Protocol Address and Domain Name is stored, but not the e-mail address. The Internet Protocol Address is a numerical identifier assigned to either your Internet Service Provider or your computer.

The type of browser and the operating system you use.

The date and time you visited.

The web pages or documents you accessed at this website.

The website you visited prior to coming to this website.

The website you visit as you leave this website.

If you download a document, the document that was download.

The information we collect is used to improve the content of our website and to help us understand how people are using our site. This information does not indentify you personally and is used solely for statistical analysis to improve the value of the information available.

E-mails and Surveys

If you identify yourself by sending an e-mail, your e-mail address and the contents of your e-mail may be retained. We may retain and/or use the information to process and/or respond to your request, address issues you identify, further improve our website, or as otherwise allowed by law. Personal information will only be made available to others as necessary to handle your e-mail, and will be used only for the purposes for which it was provided. We will not forward that information to any other source.

Your e-mail address is not collected for commercial purposes and MDG&E will not sell or otherwise disclose your e-mail address for commercial purposes.

If you respond to an online survey, the only information that will be collected is the information volunteered in your response.

Cookies

Cookies are simple text files stored on your web browser to provide a means of distinguishing among users of this website. The use of cookies is a standard practice among Internet websites. To better serve you, we occasionally use “session cookies” to enhance or customize your visit to this website.

Session cookies can be created automatically on the devise your use to access this website, do not contain personal information and do not compromise your privacy or security. We may use the cookie feature to store a randomly generated identifying tag on the device your use to access this website. A session cookie is erased during operation of your browser or when your browser is closed.

Links to Other Sites

We have linked our website to other sites you might find useful. When you link to another site, you are no longer on our site and are subject to the privacy policy of the new site. We do not endorse any content, viewpoints, products, or services linked from this site, and shall not be held liable for any losses caused by reliance on the accuracy, reliability, or timeliness of such information. Any person or entity that relies on any information obtained from a linked site does so at his or her own risk.

Disclosure of Information Collected Through this Website

If not protected by Federal or State law, personal information collected through this website may be subject to disclosure pursuant to law, such as the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) or court order. In addition, MDG&E may disclose personal information to Federal or State law enforcement authorities to enforce its rights against any attempt to access this website for other than its intended purpose.

Security

This website is provided as a public service by MDG&E. This system is monitored to ensure proper operation, to verify the functioning of applicable security features, and for statistical purposes. Anyone using this website expressly consents to such monitoring. Any unauthorized attempt to modify any information stored on this system, to defeat or circumvent security features, or to utilize this system for other than its intended purposes is prohibited and many result in criminal prosecution.

Retention of Information

The information collected through this website is retained by MDG&E.

Information, including personal information, which you submit in an e-mail is retained in accordance with the records retention and disposition schedule established for the records of the department to which you submit the information. Information concerning these records retention and disposition schedules may be obtained through the Internet privacy policy contact listed in this policy.

Access to and Correction of Personal Information Collected Through this Website

Any user may submit a request to MDG&E’s privacy compliance officer to determine whether personal information pertaining to that user has been collected through this website. Any such request shall be made in writing and must be accompanied by reasonable proof of identity of the user. Reasonable proof of identity may include verification of a signature, inclusion of an identifier generally known only to the user, or similar appropriate identification. The address of the privacy compliance officer is;

The privacy compliance officer shall, within five (5) business days of the receipt of a proper request, provide access to the personal information; deny access in writing, explaining the reasons therefore; or acknowledge the receipt of the request in writing, stating the approximate date when the request will be granted or denied, which shall not be more than thirty (30) days from the date of the acknowledgement.

Confidentiality and Integrity of Personal Information Collected Through this Website

MDG&E is strongly committed to protecting personal information collected through this website against unauthorized access, use or disclosure. Consequently, MDG&E limits employee access to personal information collected through this website to only those employees who need access to information in the performance of their official duties. Employees who have access to this information follow appropriate procedures in connection with and disclosures of personal information.

In addition, MDG&E has implemented procedures to safeguard the integrity of its information technology assets, including, but not limited to, authentication, monitoring, auditing, and encryption.

These security procedures have been integrated into the design, implementation, and day-to-day operations of this website as part of our continuing commitment to the security of electronic content as well as the electronic transmission of information.

For website security purposes and to maintain the availability of the website for all users, MDG&E employs software to monitor traffic to identify unauthorized attempts to upload or change information or otherwise damage this website.

Limitation of Liability

We attempt to maintain the highest accuracy of content on this website. Any errors or omissions should be reported to MDG&E’s Webmaster at: webmaster@usgande.com for investigation.

MDG&E makes no claims, promises, or guarantees about the absolute accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the contents of this website and expressly disclaims liability for errors and omissions in the content. No warranty of any kind – implied, expressed, or statutory, (including but not limited to the warranties of non-infringement of third party rights, title, merchantability, fitness, for a particular purpose, and freedom from computer virus) – is given with respect to the contents of this website or its links to internet resources.

Reference in this website to any specific commercial products, processes, or services, or the use of any trade, firm or corporation name is for the information and convenience of the public, and does not constitute endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by MDG&E or its employees or agents.

The information provided in this privacy policy should not be construed as giving business, legal, or other advice, or warranting as fail proof, the security of information provided through this website.